Be More Than Expected!
Don Garrison - Scholarship Award
Simon (CEO Numerical Innovations, Inc) and his father Don Garrison. September 2015.
Purpose: To Inspire Black, Hispanic and all children (between the ages of 10-17), who have the potential to become future technology leaders. The Don Garrison Scholarship was started in 2000, immediately after Simon Garrison sold his first company for approximately $2 million (USD). This award is solely sponsored by Numerical Innovations Inc, - a black owned technology business.
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Background: Don Garrison was born in New Orleans, Louisiana during the 1940's in the segregated Deep South. In the late 1960's after serving in the US military, he moved to San Francisco in search of opportunity. Don attended Foothill College (in Los Altos, Ca) during "Silicon Valley's" huge growth period of the mid-1970's where companies like: Apple, Microsoft, Oracle were founded and recruiting local college students. He congratulated fellow classmates and his wife when they received multiple job offers in technology. Don became discouraged but not surprised, when he was only offered low-level jobs for janitorial and assembly worker (sorting wires).
In the early 1980's, his son Simon received the highest mathematical IQ test score at school. Don made sure his son was going to have the opportunity he was never offered. Don and his wife - maxed out their Macy's credit card to buy the newest Apple IIe computer for their son.
Simon Garrison with Apple IIe Computer -1984
"I was very blessed to have parents who sacrificed and inspired me to deeply learn computer languages 'down to the assembly language level' at such an early age. My father said: To work in Silicon Valley, you're gonna have to do it on your own - and expect no help. After being rejected by at least 50 tech companies, I started my own company at age 23. Since the mid-90's almost every tech company in Silicon Valley has bought or used my software. I wish to help similar kids cultivate their talents early - to become more than they expected." - Simon Garrison (CEO Numerical Innovations, Inc.)
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If you (or the parent/guardian of a gifted child) could greatly benefit from an early opportunity to have the latest Apple laptop, software development tools, and ability to directly contact our CEO with any software/business related questions - please submit the form (below) to be considered for the Don Garrison Scholarship Award.